Air-lock for caissons.



PATENTED JU'LY 3, '1906.

INVENTUM: W MVM@ film/1 S; MATTSON (Ya W. M. TORRANGE. AIR LOCK FORGAISSONS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.18,1905.

WITNESSES 1H: Nanms PETERS ca.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

No. 824,877. PATBNTED JULY 3.1906. s. MATTSON & W. M. TORRANGE. AIR LOOKFOR GAISSONS.l

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1905.

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PATENTED JULY 3 S. MATTSON d; W. M. TORRANGE.

AIR LOCK FOR CAISSONS. APPLICATION FILED Nmms, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL HATTSON, OF NEW YORK, AND WILLIAM M. TOR'RANOE, OF YONKERS, NEWYORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application iled November 1S, 1905. Serial No. 287,970.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL MATTSON, residing in the borough ofBrooklyn, in the city of New York, and VILLIAM M. TOR- RANCE, residingin the city of Yonkers, in the county of l/Vestcliester, State of NewYork, citizens of the United States of America, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Air-Locks for Caissons.

This invention relates to air-locks constructed for the passing ofhoisting-ropes with suspended buckets for the removal of material fromcaisson excavations or in any movement of tools or material into or outof caissons in which it is necessary to pass a hoisting-rope through arope-passing door which clofies the caisson to enable the maintenance ofa state of air-pressure different from normal free atmospheric pressurewith more especial reference to the movement of excavation-bucketsthrough such air-locks into and out of caissons.

The object of our invention is to construct an air-lock with a toprope-passing door of three or more valves extending from the sides tothe center and so arranged that an opening for the passage of a ropethrough same is left at the center and in which the top opening iscentered vertically over the bottom opening and over the vertical shaftreaching down to the caisson.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, which form a part of thisapplication, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air-lockembodying features of our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan to a largerscale of the saine air-lock. Fig. 3 is a larger cross-sectional viewshowing the use of a stufling-box for the rope shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a side view showing mechanism for operating the top door. Fig. 5 is alargescale cross-sectional view of the grooved joint between two of thethree or more valves of the top door. Fig. 6 is a verticalcrosssectional view of an air-lock embodying additional features of ourinvention. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view to a larger scale,showing the use of a novel stufling-box, which forms a part of ourinvention. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view showing features of thestuffing-box shown in Fig. 7 and means for securing same to the door.Fig. 9 is a top plan of the central portion of the lock shown in Fig. 6,showing means of securing the stuffing-box to the door. Fig. 10 is avertical cross-sectional view of amodification of our invention, showinga special bottom door.

The lock comprises a chamber 2 sufliciently large t0 contain a bucket orother tools or objects which it may be desired to pass through the lockinto and out 0f the caisson and has an upper opening and a lower opening4 in the same vertical line, the lower opening being in communicatronwith the caisson and the upper openingin communication with the openair. The upper opening is closed by a rope-passing multiplevalve door,which embodies many of the specific features of our invention.

In the form of air-lock shown in Figs. 1 t0 5, inclusive, therope-passing door consists of four valves 1 1` 1 1, each occupying aquadrant. These are so made that when the door is closed the undersurface is convex, being an outside surface of a cone, and theairpressure being greater on this convex surface than on the upperconcave surface acts to close tightly all ljoints. The oints between thedifferent valves of the door are shown provided with gaskets of rubberor other suitable material h, and the circular joint between the doorsand the seat 16 is shown provided with a circular gasket 17. At thecenter of the door a circular opening 19 is left for the passage of therope 7, and to prevent leakage of air around the rope through thisopening a stuffing-box is carried on the rope. This stuffing-box is madewith aprojection all around at the bottom, on which a gasket of rubberor other suitable material 10 is carried. A packing of hemp or. othersuitable inaterial 9 is held in place against the rope by an upper nut8. When the door is closed and a greater pressure obtains on the underside of the door than on its upper side, leakage of air is prevented bythe compression of the gasket 10, due to air-pressure on the lower endof the stuffing-box.

Each valve 1 of the door is shown as composed of one thickness of metalg, bent into conical shape and bound on the edges by strips of metal e eon the one edge and f f on the other for the purpose of leaving a grooveon the one edge and a projecting tongue on the other for fitting intothecorresponding groove on the next adjacent valve 1 of the door. Agasket 7L is fitted into the root of the IOO IOS

groove between strips 'for aiding in prel venting leakage of air. lt isunderstood that each alternate valve 1 may be grooved on each of itsedges, and the other parts may have the projection on. each edge. It isunderstood that our invention is not limited to this particular form ofjoint between adjacent valves, but that it includes any form of oint.

Each valve 1 of the door is shown hinged by hinges (L (L to a horizontalshaft 15. Bearing-blocks l) I) l) are attached to the valve 1 and thehinges e ((r are connected by pins (Z to these blocks through the holesc in the hinges (L (L. These holes may be slotted to allow possiblenecessary lateral motion of the valves 1 1 1 1 in compressing thegaskets 7i, 71 h, h, and 17 to make tight oints.

The hinge-shafts 1.5 15 15 15 are shown as mounted in the four cornercastings 2O 2() 20 20 and geared together by two beveled gears 13 13 ateach corner, so that they all turn together, insuring the simultaneousmovement and closure of valves 1 1 1 1. A counterweight 12 is shownmounted on each shaft 15, and power is shown as applied by an air orsteam cylinder 1.41, connected with the leverarm of weight 12. Power mayalso be applied by means of a lever, as shown.

it is understood that our invention is not limited to the means forapplying the power shown on the drawings, but that any means forapplying power to a shaft may be used.

Fig` 4 shows in full lines the position of a valve 1 and. of weight andlever 12 when door is closed. The dotted lines show the positions whendoor is opened. The movement is caused by admission of steam orcompressed air below the piston in the cylinder 14. The piston-rod isshown connected with the arm of weight 12 in such manner that themovement thereof causes the cylinder to oscillate on. its bearing duringthe movement of the door. lt is obvious that the cylinder could be heldrigidly and the piston-rod conneeted to the arm by a link motion. It isnecessary if more than one cylinder is used on more than one of the arms12 that steam or compressed air be admitted to all simultaneously so asto obtain joint action of i saine.

In the improved lock shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, an improvedstuffing-box 21 which forms a part of our invention, is shown instead ofthe stuffing-box 6 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. This stuffing-box 21 hasa proj ection all around at the bottom in the under side of which acircular gasket 22 is attached. This projection carries a yoke 23 withprojecting beveled lugs, so arranged that it may i be turned to engagewith the beveled lugs 24 241, attached to the upper surface of the door.A suitable wrench 25 may be used to turn this yoke to position shown;but it is understood that we do not limit ourselves to this means 'forturning this yoke to position.. Afj ter the door is closed thisstuffing-box 21 is lowered. to the top of the door with the beveled lugsin positions shown in dotted lines. The yoke 23 is then turned by meansof the wrench 25 or otherwise, the beveled lugs of same engaging withthe beveled lugs 24 24 and made tight thereby. This will compress thegasket 22 against the top of the door around the rope-opening 19, andsame will be air-tight. This V[it will become still tighter whenair-pressure is admitted to the lock. It is understood that there may bea greater number of lugs 24 than here shown, and a correspondinglygreaternumber of lugs on yoke 23.

It is understood that the lower door 11 instead of being a single valveclosing against the seat 25 and gasket 26, as shown in Fig. 1, may bemade like the upper door, but with no rope-opening left at the center atthe junetion of the valves. It is believed, however, that a betterair-lock will be obtained by use of a single valve, as here shown.

The air-lock shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, need not be so high asthe air-lock shown in Figs. 1 to 5, as room does not have to be providedin the former for lowering the stuffing-box before the doors are opened,as in the latter case.

It is obvious that the main features of our invention are applicable toanyT number of valves for the upper door from three up. It is alsoobvious that the convex under surface instead of being conical, asshown, may be spherical or pyramidal and in any of these cases thegreater air-pressure would make all joints tight by virtue of thatpressure. It is understood that any of these forms or the use of anynumber of valves greater than two is included in our invention.

Tt is also understood that our invention includes the use of anair-lock, as described, for movement of rope and other material in ahorizontal or inclined direction, as well as for vertical movements, asdescribed and illustrated herewith.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by lietters Patent, isf 1. In an air-lock the combination withone of the openings thereto of a door composed of multiple valves,substantially as specified, the door having a surface convex toward theside on which the greater air-pressure will ob tain when the door isclosed.

2. In an air-lock the combination with each of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple valves, substantially as specified, the doorhaving a surface convex toward the side on which the greaterair-pressure will obtain when the door is closed.

3. In an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple v alves, substantially as specified, eachvalve hinged from the side of the lock TOO IIS

ing and to interlock them with each other,

with adjustments in the hinges to allow all joints to come to a bearing.

5. In an air-lock the combination With one of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple valves; substantially as specified, the doorhaving a surface convex toward the side on which the greaterair-pressure will obtain when the door is closed, and with a ropepassinghole in the center of the door when closed.

6. In an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple valves, substantially as specified, each valvehinged from the side of the lock and the valves connected to each otherby means of suitable mechanism to insure simultaneous movement inopening and closing and to interlock them with each other, withadjustments in the hinges to allow all joints to come to a bearing, andwith a ropepassing hole in the center of the door when closed. i

7. In an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed.

of multiple valves, substantially as specified, the door having asurface convex toward the side on which the greater air-pressure willobtain when the door is closed; a rope-passing hole in the center of thedoor when closed; a stuffing-box carried on the rope; and means forsecuring the stuffing-box to close the ropepassing hole around the rope.

S. In an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple valves, substantially as specified, each valvehinged from the side of the lock and the valves connected to each otherby means of suitable mechanism to insure simultaneous movement inopening and closing and to interlock them with each other, withadjustments in the hinges to allow all joints to come to a bearing; arope-passing hole in the center of the door when closed; a stufing-boxcarried on the rope; and means for securing the stuffing-box to closethe ropepassing hole around the rope.

9. ln an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple valves, substantially as specified, the doorhaving a surface convex toward the side on which the greaterair-pressure will obn tain when the door is closed; a rope-passing holein the center of the door when closed; and a stufling-box carried on themoving rope containing the combination of a projection; a yoke withprojecting lugs carried on the projection; lugs attached to the door;and means for engaging the lugs of the yoke with the lugs on the door tosecure an air-tight joint around. the ro pe in the rope-passing hole.

10. ln an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto ol'a door composed of multiple valves, substantially as specified, the doorhaving a surface convex toward the side on which the greater airpressurewill obtain when the door is closed; `a rope-passing hole in the centerof the door when closed; and a stufling-box carried on the moving ropecontaining the combination of a projection; a yoke with projecting lugscarried on the projection; a gasket of compressible elastic material onthe end of the stufhng-box; lugs attached to the door; and means forengaging the lugs of the yoke with the lugs on the door to secure anair-tight joint around the rope in the rope-passing hole.

1l. In an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple valves, substantially as specified, each valvehinged from the side of the lock and the valves connected to each otherby means of suitable mechanism to insure simultaneous movement inopening and closing to interlock them with each other, with adjustmentsin the hinges to allow all joints to come to a bearing; a rope-passinghole in the center of the door when closed; and a stufhng-box carried onthe moving rope containing the combination of a projection; a yoke withprojecting lugs carried on the projection; lugs attached to the door;and means for engaging the lugs of the yoke with the lugs on the door tosecure an airtight joint around the rope in the rope-passing hole.

l2. In an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed of multiple valves, substantially as specified, each valvehinged from the side of the lock and the valves connected to each otherby means of suitable mechanism to insure simultaneous movement inopening and closing and to interlock them with each other, withadjustments in the hinges to allow all joints to come to a bearing; aropepassing hole in the center of the door when closed; and astuiing-box carried on the moving rope containing the combination of aprojection; a yoke with projecting lugs carried on the projection; agasket of compressible elastic material on the end of the stuffing-box;lugs attached to the door; and means for engaging the lugs of the yokewith the lugs on the door to secure an air-tight IOO IIO

jloilnt around the rope in the rope-passing 13. In an air-lock thecombination with one of the openings thereto of a door composed ofmultiple valves substantially as specilied with a surface convex towardthe side on which the greater air-pressure will obtain; a seat for thevalves extending around the lock against which the valves abut whenclosed; gaskets of compressible elastic material attached to theadjoining edges of adjacent valves ol: the door g and a gasket ofcompressible elastic material to close the joint between the valves andthe seat.

lli. In an air-lock the combination with each of the openings thereto ofa door composed of multiple valves substantially as speciiied with asurface convex toward the side on which the greater air-pressure willobtain; a seat 'for the valves extending around the lock against whichthe valves abut when closed; gaskets of compressible elastic materialattached to the adjoining edges of adjacent valves of the door g and agasket of compressible elastic material to close the joint between thevalves and the seat.

l5. In an air-lock the combination with one of the openings thereto of adoor composed oi multiple valves, substantially as specified7 each valvehinged from the side of j the lock and. the valves connected. to eachother by means of suitable mechanism to insure simultaneous movement inopening and closing and to interlock them with each other, withadjustments in the hinges to allow all joints to come to a bearing, thedoor having a surface convex toward the side on which the greaterair-pressure will obtain when the door is closed 5 a seat for the valvesextending around the lock against which the valves abut when closed;gaskets of compressible elastic material attached to the adjoining edgesof adjacent valves of the door; a gasket of comj'nessible elasticmaterial to close the joint between the valves andthe seat 3 arope-passing hole in the center of the door when closed; and astuffing-box carried on the moving rope containing the combination of aprojection; a yoke with projecting lugs carried on the projection; agasket of compressible elastic material on the end of the stuffing-box;lugs attached to the door; and means for engaging the lugs of the vokewith the lugs on the door to secure an airtight joint around the rope inthe rope-passing hole.

Signed by us at New York city, borough of Manhattan, on this 14th day ofNovember,

SAMUEL MATTSON. WILLIAM M. TORRANCE. Iitnesses:

ARTHUR R. BArLIs, IRWIN WV. PIERCE.

